Having panic attacks at work feels fucking pathetic

bignosegirly0

There was a technique which I used a few times which helped me prevent a panic attack. But during an awful shift at work where we were pending everywhere and had customers complaining left and right, I had a panic attack. I was constantly shaking and couldn’t breathe properly or speak. Coworkers and managers kept noticing and told me to calm down (not in a rude way) or have a five minute break. I kept saying I shouldn’t because they’re busy, but it got to a point where I couldn’t talk or breathe properly and I kept saying “I can’t breathe properly”.

I went for a quick break and was comforted by another coworker who also had panic attacks. I kept apologising for letting the other coworkers down and she was very sympathetic.

During a break, after asking a manager if they want me to go back early, a coworker mentions how I always put work first before myself and how it’s okay for me to have a break.

Overall, it’s really lovely that there are many supportive coworkers, but I can’t help but feel pathetic when I have a panic attack or meltdown at work. I fucking wish I could get medicated. I don’t care if I have a million panic attacks alone, I hate when it happens at work and I let others down.

Invisible_me

I knoe exactly how you ferl. Its feels embarrassing when it happens at work but try not b to feel too bad, it sounds as if they were understanding of it which is positive.

If your finding it happens a work quite a bit, do you feel able b to have a chat with your manager aboyt it?,

bignosegirly0

@Invisible_me unfortunately there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s the summer holidays and we’ve got several concerts happening near us, so we’ll get thousands and thousands of customers non stop. We can’t suddenly stop that. The only thing I can do is work through it and if I have a panic attack, then have a five minute break I suppose.

Azziman

Hey @bignosegirly0, I can hear how you feel pathetic for having a panic attack at work. It sounds like it's a really busy and high-pressure environment at work, especially at the moment, and I can imagine that you won't be the only one to feel overwhelmed in the moment.

Be kind to yourself - you're doing your best, and when you're feeling like you can't breathe or speak properly, it's a really clear sign that you need to take a short break. A five-minute break in this case isn't that much time that it'll let anyone down, and it sounds like you have supportive people there who look out for you and are in favour of you taking a break as well if you really need it.

With your experience of panic attacks, is this something you've had for a long time, or something relatively new? Do you notice it getting better or worse compared to previous busy times at work? We're here to listen to you,

Invisible_me

bignosegirly0 wrote: »

@Invisible_me unfortunately there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s the summer holidays and we’ve got several concerts happening near us, so we’ll get thousands and thousands of customers non stop. We can’t suddenly stop that. The only thing I can do is work through it and if I have a panic attack, then have a five minute break I suppose.

I understand you can't get rid of tge triggers or the work demands ans you cantc do anything about the actual environment, situations but I agree take the breaks and its absolutely fine to- dobt feel bad-vits what you need and never feel ashamed to meet your needs you should be supported in this and it feels like they are understanding of this. Can you talj to your manager?

bignosegirly0

@Azziman it started around summer time this year. In the past, I have had moments where I’m holding back tears and unable to speak. But that’s not a panic attack, that’s just me being overwhelmed and stressed to a milder level. Nowadays, my panic attack starts with me shaking intensely, being wide-eyed, and either unable to breathe or breathing rapidly.

bignosegirly0

@Invisible_me I have a variety of different managers depending on what shift I’m on, I could try and let them know if I need a break when I feel a panic attack coming, it just depends whether I’m able to speak properly lol. thank you.